Starts: https://www.readingfc.co.uk/news/2019/december/team-news--reading-vs-birmingham-city/ Reading: Rafael, Yiadom, Miazga, Moore (c), Morrison, Richards, Pelé, Rinomhota, McCleary, Méïté, Pușcaș. Subs: Walker, Gunter, Loader, Boyé, Blackett, Adam, João.
Out at the half in a 3-2 loss: A half time substitution and a change of shape for #ReadingFC...#REAvBIR | 1-1 pic.twitter.com/CEDaR31dZr— Reading FC (@ReadingFC) December 7, 2019
"Tactical" sub: Bowen took out their best defender to switch from 5-3-2 to a 4-4-2. Fans are not happy.
I have felt along that Miazga should be bought by Toronto - that is, if Chelsea don't want him at Stamford Bridge. Toronto have the makings of a great team for years to come but their back line is iffy. Miazga is solid, at MLS level, a guy who is a winner.
Theoretically, but Omar went to Toronto this summer; they aren't moving on from him that quickly. Miazga isn't coming back to MLS anytime soon anyway, but even as a thought exercise, I'd imagine Mavinga would get moved to the bench or Toronto would switch to a back 5 were Miazga to go there.
Why? He's capable of playing in some sides in a top 5 league though he'd have to continue to prove himself. Why leave that for MLS?
I think he his having problems proving himself to the managers' satisfaction, in Europe, whatever that reason might be. He seemed too good for Holland and not good enough for Stamford bridge. It's up to him. Ream seems to love Championship. Maybe Miazga will, too.
From a preview of today's match @ Barnsley "Likely Reading lineup: Rafael, Richards, Moore, Morrison, Miazga, Yiadom, Rinomhota, Pele, Ejaria, Joao, Puscas The switch to four at the back didn’t work out for the Royals on Saturday and the decision to take Matt Miazga off was puzzling in my opinion. Out of him, Liam Moore and Michael Morrison, I would say that the American is probably the best centre back out of the trio. He formed a great partnership with Moore at the business end of the last campaign – so why did we take him off at half time? On paper, the centre backs look like one of the strongest defensive trios in the Championship. The fact that we’re still failing to keep clean sheets is frustrating. If we can tighten up at the back, it will only help us to climb up the table. https://thetilehurstend.sbnation.co...-reading-fc-match-preview-royals-royals-tykes {My emphasis}
What is stupid is switching to the 4-4-2 while taking out the best of the CBs. A real head-scratcher. Morrison should have been the one replaced.
The coach learned. Morrison got subbed in the 75th today at 1-0. Reading immediately scored, and it finished 1-1. Still not a great result against Barnsley, but it moves Reading 5 points clear of relegation with a game in hand.
He's out of the 18 altogether, so he's probably injured or sick. Edit: Injured. Picked up a hamstring injury in training yesterday. https://www.getreading.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/reading-fc-rocked-double-injury-17421005
Not in the squad today: 🚨 TEAM NEWS 🚨Baldock, João and @Yaks75 all start 🆚 @dcfcofficial @JohnSwift8 returns to the squad#REAvDER pic.twitter.com/5VmD1yShbS— Reading FC (@ReadingFC) December 21, 2019
Was looking at the championship table... Reading actually is tied for the 6th best goals allowed stat. So yeah, I think Matt is going to have some top half/promotion contenders interested in his services next year worst case scenario.
On the bench: 🚨 TEAM NEWS 🚨Here's how the #Royals line up to face @QPR this evening...#REAvQPR pic.twitter.com/bF4lZKcmCq— Reading FC (@ReadingFC) December 26, 2019
Best bet is to sell his services to an ambitious Championship club, earn promotion and establish himself in the EPL that way. It's a tough road, but he is still young enough to make it work. He's going to have to temper his expectations of a career with a UCL side, and try to break in with a club that at least can get promoted and stay up for a few years. If he can latch on with another Leicester or Crystal Palace type of club, then he might eventually have a nice career in the Premiership.
No chance of him trying his chances again in Europe? Serie A? Bundesliga? Or are the high English wages a roadblock to that?
The Championship is usually the final destination for our guys because nowhere else they are going to get paid the same amount, considering their quality. Miazga would have to be a clear Top 5 league quality defender to get out of there, which he is not.